Chapter 19 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms delivers one of the most dramatic and symbolically rich episodes in the entire saga—the fall of Lü Bu, the peerless warrior whose unmatched martial prowess was ultimately undone by personal flaws, betrayal, and superior strategy. As Cao Cao closes in on his most dangerous rival, the narrative weaves together themes of loyalty, ambition, treachery, and political calculation, culminating in a siege that reshapes the balance of power in late Eastern Han China.
The Siege of Xiapi
In the summer of 198, Cao Cao launched a campaign westward against Zhang Xiu, inflicting heavy losses on Zhang Xiu’s forces and those of Liu Biao. He then set his sights on Lü Bu in the east. After a series of conflicts, Cao Cao recognized that Lü Bu, who had seized control of Xuzhou, posed a critical threat to stability in eastern China. Lü Bu, though a formidable warrior, had alienated allies through treachery and arrogance. Seeing an opportunity, Cao Cao formed a coalition with Liu Bei and other regional forces to launch a decisive campaign against him.
In 198 AD, Cao Cao’s armies surrounded Xiapi, Lü Bu’s stronghold. Despite being outnumbered and isolated, Lü Bu initially resisted fiercely. He led several successful sorties against Cao Cao’s forces, demonstrating his legendary combat skill. However, his leadership was fatally flawed—impulsive, distrustful, and dominated by personal desires.
The Tragedy of a Brilliant Strategist: Chen Gong’s Wasted Wisdom
Lü Bu’s chief advisor, Chen Gong, who also served Cao Cao once, was a man of keen intellect and unwavering loyalty. He repeatedly urged Lü Bu to adopt proactive strategies—such as dividing forces between the city and field armies to harass Cao Cao’s supply lines.
However, Lü Bu, swayed by his wife Lady Yan, who feared for his safety, rejected Chen Gong’s plans. His indecision and emotional attachment to his family prevented him from seizing critical opportunities to break the siege.
Historically, Chen Gong had once served Cao Cao but defected to Lü Bu after a moral disagreement. His loyalty to Lü Bu, despite the latter’s flaws, underscores the tragic dimension of his character—a brilliant mind trapped in service to a doomed leader.
The Flood Strategy
As the siege dragged on, Cao Cao considered retreating due to supply issues and troop fatigue. It was then that his two chief strategists, Guo Jia and Xun You, proposed a bold plan:
“Break the dikes of the Yi and Si rivers to flood Xiapi!”
Cao Cao agreed. The rivers were diverted, and a massive flood engulfed the city. Xiapi became a watery wasteland, with water rising to the lower levels of buildings. The walls weakened, morale collapsed, and food supplies ran critically low.
This tactic, while brutal, was rooted in real military engineering practices of the era. Historical records confirm that Cao Cao used hydraulic warfare in multiple campaigns, and the flooding of Xiapi is mentioned in both the Sanguozhi and Zizhi Tongjian as a decisive factor in Lü Bu’s defeat.
The rift between Lü Bu and Hou Cheng
Hou Cheng was a general under Lü Bu. Once, his retainers stole some horses and fled to Xiaopei to join Liu Bei. Hou Cheng personally led cavalrymen to pursue them and successfully recovered the horses. The other generals sent gifts to congratulate him, but Hou Cheng abstained from eating or drinking first. Instead, he brought pork and wine to Lü Bu and said,
“Thanks to your grace, I have recovered the stolen horses. The generals have come to offer their congratulations. I have brewed fine wine and hunted pork, but I dared not consume them before presenting them to you as a token of my gratitude.”
Lü Bu flew into rage and said,
“I have banned alcohol, yet you brewed wine. When you gathered with the other generals to eat and drink as brothers, were you plotting to assassinate me?”
Frightened, Hou Cheng left in a hurry, discarded the wine he had brewed, and returned the gifts from the other generals. From then on, he lived in constant fear.
The Betrayal Within
As conditions worsened, discontent spread among Lü Bu’s officers. Hou Cheng, a minor incident that enraged Lü Bu as mentioned above, who threatened severe punishment. This outburst, combined with prolonged hardship, turned the officers against him.
Seizing the moment, Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu conspired to surrender. While Lü Bu slept, exhausted from vigilance, they bound him with ropes and opened the city gates to Cao Cao’s army.
The image of the mighty Lü Bu, captured like a common criminal, is one of the most poignant reversals of fortune in Chinese literature. The once-feared warrior was now at the mercy of his enemies.
The judgment at the White Gate Tower
Brought before Cao Cao at the White Gate Tower, Lü Bu pleaded for his life. He boasted of his strength and offered to serve Cao Cao:
“My lord, you desire strength—here I am. With me as your vanguard, who can stand against you?”
Cao Cao hesitated. Lü Bu’s martial ability was undeniable. Then Cao Cao asked for Liu Bei’s opinion. Liu Bei reminded him:
“My lord, have you forgotten how Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo met their ends?”
The reference was clear: Lü Bu had betrayed and murdered both of his former patrons. If he could kill his own lords, what would stop him from turning on Cao Cao? See also this post to learn why Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo.
Realizing the danger, Cao Cao ordered Lü Bu’s execution by strangulation.
The Aftermath
- Chen Gong, who refused to surrender, was executed with dignity. Cao Cao, respecting his loyalty, ensured his family to be well cared for—an act reflecting both political wisdom and personal admiration.
- Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu, the traitors who captured Lü Bu, were granted titles and rewards, though their legacy in history and literature is one of infamy rather than honor.
- Liu Bei’s quiet intervention revealed his political acumen: by eliminating a potential rival to Cao Cao (and himself), he practiced a form of killing with a borrowed knife”.
The fall of Lü Bu marks the end of the era of the lone warrior-king. No longer could a man rule by sheer martial prowess alone. The future belonged to those who could command loyalty, master strategy, and wield political legitimacy. It also deepens the moral complexity of the narrative: bravery without wisdom leads to ruin, loyalty without a just cause ends in tragedy, and victory often belongs not to the strongest, but to the most calculating.
This chapter sets the stage for the tripartite division of China:
- Cao Cao eliminates his most dangerous rival in the east.
- Liu Bei, though allied with Cao Cao, begins to assert his independence.
- The vacuum left by Lü Bu’s fall allows new powers to rise.
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